Proyecto Don Bosco: F.A.Q.

Thank you for your interest in Proyecto Don Bosco! Below you will find more information about sponsoring a child in the program.

What is the cost to sponsor a child?

For only $20 dollars a month ($240 per year) you can sponsor a child and insure that the child remains in school. Once you agree to sponsorship, we ask that you consider this an annual commitment.

Is my donation tax deductible?

Yes. All payments are made to St. Raymond's Church and are therefore tax deductible.

How is the sponsorship donation distributed?

Every month the family of each sponsored child receives a payment in Guatemalan currency, it is the equivalent of your $20 US Dollars. That money is used to provide for the needs of the child's family. It is meant to supplement the family's income, insuring that your sponsored child will remain a student in school and not be sent to work full time before receiving an education.

How much of my sponsorship donation is given to the sponsored child's family?

Because Proyecto Don Bosco's administration is all unpaid volunteers, your entire donation is given to your sponsor child's family.

How are the children chosen for my sponsorship?

The children are selected by the Parish Council in Guatemala. So we can help as many families as possible, only one child per family may be sponsored.

May I choose to sponsor a girl or a boy?

As a sponsor, you usually have a choice. You may ask for a girl or a boy, a child or a teenager.

What expenses are covered by my donation?

Your $20 helps to provide:

Nourishing food

Medical and dental care

Basic clothing

The promise to remain in school

The knowledge that someone cares!

Where do I send my donations?

All of your donation checks or money orders should be made payable to "St. Raymond R.C. Church" and sent to the Rectory at St Raymond's. Please click "Sponsor a Child" at the top of this page for more details.

How do I communicate with my sponsored child?

Initially, you will be sent a photograph of your sponsored child. Then after the child and their family are notified, you will receive a letter from your sponsored child. We encourage you to correspond with your sponsored child. All of your letters should be sent to the Rectory at St Raymond's. If necessary, your letter will be translated into Spanish and then sent to the project coordinator in Guatemala. Mail delivery is not like what we have in the United States, so the coordinator will deliver the letters to the families. Letters from sponsored children are gathered by the program coordinator in Guatemala and sent to the Rectory at St. Raymond's for translation into English and distribution to the sponsors.

Will I be able to visit my sponsored child?

Each year in July, Deacon Rich and several sponsors make mission trips to Guatemala. Facilities are very limited. The dates for the July mission trip are usually established each September. These trips tend to fill rapidly. All missionaries must complete the VIRTUS (Protecting God's Children) training.

For their birthday, or on special holidays, will I be able to send a gift or an extra donation to my sponsored child?

As a sponsor, you may send a gift or an extra donation. Small gifts should be sent to the Rectory at St. Raymond's and in July the missionaries will bring them to Guatemala with their baggage. Unfortunately, no gifts will be sent through the mail. Packages are usually held in customs and require fees to be paid before your sponsor child can take ownership. Below is a photo from packing night 2015!

Still have questions? Contact Deacon Rich LaRossa by using the form below.